American’s Skeleton Run Goes Awry

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — John Daly of the United States was in fourth place going into the fourth heat of the men’s skeleton final on Saturday when he botched his run just as it was beginning. It is unclear how exactly it happened — possibly he was too eager or too aggressive — but as he ran alongside and flung himself onto his sled at the top of the track, the sled popped out of the groove meant to guide it through its initial descent.

This happens only rarely in high-level competition: Keeping the sled controlled at the start is a tenet of the sport. As the sled careened around the track, Daly’s legs were flailing off the back. That cost him his chance at a bronze medal.

Daly, 28, ended the race in tears and in 15th place, saying he felt so shattered that he had been unable even to look at his parents in the stands after he crossed the finish line.

Alexander Tretiakov, a.k.a. the Russian Rocket, a popular favorite of the boisterous crowd, took the gold and Martin Dukurs of Latvia the silver. The bronze medal went to Daly’s teammate Matt Antoine, who competed immediately after Daly.

“When I was walking up to the line, I heard all the groans,” Antoine said. “I knew something bad had happened.”

As for Daly, he said he planned to go home and take a break from the skeleton for a while.

“I had a mile of ice to think about what just happened,” he said, describing his feelings during the race, “and now I have four more years to wait.”